The Artful Dodger - Season 2 (2026) TV Series Review: A Lush and Gritty Reimagining of Dickens That Dominates on Hulu and Disney+

The return of Jack Dawkins and Norbert Fagin in the second season of The Artful Dodger marks a triumphant, high-energy comeback for a series that originally seemed like a curious experiment in Dickensian fan-fiction. After a two-year hiatus that left fans agonizing over a major cliffhanger, the show has resurfaced on Disney+ and Hulu with a premiere date of February 10, 2026. This eight-episode season, created by James McNamara, David Maher, and David Taylor, continues to transport us back to the sweltering, vibrant world of 1850s Port Victory, Australia. What started as a clever twist on Oliver Twist has blossomed into its own unique animal, a historical dramedy that feels less like a spinoff and more like a definitive expansion of a literary universe.

The core ensemble remains as sharp as ever. Thomas Brodie-Sangster returns as Dr. Jack Dawkins, the former Royal Navy surgeon trying to bury his criminal past, alongside David Thewlis as the manipulative yet strangely affable Norbert Fagin. Maia Mitchell reprises her role as Lady Belle Fox, the governor’s daughter with surgical aspirations, while Damon Herriman continues to provide a looming threat as Captain Lucien Gaines. This season is not just a continuation; it feels like a reinvention. With a shift in the production team, including new set and costume designers, the world of the colony feels lusher, grittier, and more expansive than before. It matters because it manages to do what few sequels achieve: it honors the source material while subverting almost every expectation of the genre.

Narrative Arc and Pacing: A High-Stakes Escape Into New Chaos

Season 2 kicks off six months after the arrest of Jack Dawkins, and it wastes no time throwing us back into the thick of things. The opening sequences are a masterclass in tension, finding Jack mere moments away from the hangman’s noose after being framed by Captain Gaines. The narrative handles this resolution with a surprising amount of weight, making the threat of Jack's execution feel genuinely plausible before his narrow salvation. Once the immediate crisis passes, the season settles into a complex rhythm that balances medical procedural elements with a burgeoning serial killer mystery and high-stakes criminal capers. While the first season focused on Jack finding his footing, this season is about the unraveling of that hard-won stability.

The episodic structure remains tight, for the most part, avoiding the dreaded mid-season slump that often plagues eight-episode arcs. However, the narrative does occasionally stumble when it tries to juggle too many tonally disparate balls. There is a serial killer subplot involving a new character, Inspector Henry Boxer, that starts with a lot of promise but eventually feels like it belongs in a different show. Halfway through the season, as the mystery deepens, the pacing in these specific segments can lag, particularly when the investigation becomes disconnected from Jack and Fagin’s primary arc. Despite this, the season is reined in by a story that cartwheels through convention without ever fully outpacing its audience. It explores heavy themes of colonial prejudice, class divides, and the moral erosion of an "adrenaline junkie" trying to be a "righteous doctor" with a wealth of compassion and intelligence.

Character Evolution and Performances: Chemistry That Silences the Critics

The undeniable heart of this series is the "verbal shorthand" and tag-team dynamic between Thomas Brodie-Sangster and David Thewlis. Sangster has fully cast aside his baby-faced features to own a role that is rich with characteristic complexities. His Jack Dawkins is a character study of a man torn between embracing his demons and fighting for a legitimate future. He is charmingly pompous but deeply vulnerable, a performance that eclipses his previous work and proves he is a leading man of significant range. When he goes toe-to-toe with Thewlis, the screen practically crackles with energy.

David Thewlis, meanwhile, delivers what might be his career-best performance. His Fagin is a conniving linguistic gymnast who believes there is more profit in concealing his intellect than in using it for social climbing. In Season 2, we see a softer side to the rogue as he takes an unexpected protégé under his wing, yet he remains a man who will never truly change. The way Fagin exploits every situation, including Jack’s fractured relationship with Belle, makes him a villain you can't help but adore.

Maia Mitchell’s Lady Belle Fox remains a force of nature. She is resourceful and intellectually on point, serving as a "Yin to Jack’s Yang." Her struggle against societal norms to become a surgeon is treated with gravity rather than cliché. A surprising breakout this season is Fanny, played by Lucy-Rose Leonard. In the first season, she was perhaps the weakest link, but here she undergoes a delightful transformation into a criminal apprentice for Fagin. Her shift from a woman yearning for a husband to a woman with a passion for crime provides some of the season's most entertaining moments. Conversely, Luke Bracey as Inspector Henry Boxer is a bit of a missed opportunity. While Bracey is a gifted actor who makes Boxer likable and honorable, the writing gives him the short end of the stick, failing to make him a convincing rival for Belle’s heart.

Direction and Production Value: A Vibrant Mecca of Upper-Class Pretension

The visual identity of The Artful Dodger has undergone a glorious upgrade. Production designer Nicholas Hare, who previously worked on the high-octane world of Furiosa, has created a Port Victory that feels lived-in and vibrant. The world breathes through its contrasts, from the opulence of the governor's residence to the grimy back alleys where Fagin’s crew operates. The cinematography captures the Age of Enlightenment through medical discoveries and cultural evolution, making the setting feel contemporary despite the period costumes.

The direction, shared between Gracie Otto and newcomers Ben Young and Ben C. Lucas, maintains a consistent tone that balances Guy Ritchie-inspired action with quiet, emotional vulnerability. The visual sleight of hand used during heist sequences is impressive, moving from the back foot into top gear before the audience can catch up. The world-building is particularly effective in how it exposes the flaws in colonial rule, showing Port Victory as a richly detailed mecca of prejudice and pretension. The new costume and set designs usher in a world that feels both bound by history and boundless in its storytelling potential.

Trailer The Artful Dodger - Season 2 (2026) TV Series

Soundscape and Atmosphere: Needle Drops and Melodramatic Moods

One of the most daring choices in Season 2 is the soundscape. The series isn't afraid to lean into modern influences, opening with a needle drop of Blur’s "Song 2" to set an effortlessly cool, confrontational tone. These musical choices occasionally feel unnecessary or a bit on the nose, but they largely succeed in making the melodrama feel fresh and urgent. The score itself works to build a mood of immersive intrigue, reflecting the "hot mess of duplicity and deceit" that defines the personal and professional lives of the leads.

The sound design effectively highlights the clinical atmosphere of the hospital and the chaotic energy of the streets. It supports a universe that has a pulse, where every discovery and every crime is accompanied by a sense of auditory weight. This atmosphere adds an intangible layer of uncertainty to the show, making it feel unpredictable and immersive in ways that a more traditional period score might have suppressed.

Strengths and Weaknesses

• Electromagnetic Lead Chemistry: The relationship between Sangster and Mitchell is a highlight, described as "fire meeting gasoline" when they share the screen.
• Thewlis as the Heart and Soul: David Thewlis delivers a pitch-perfect, career-defining performance that elevates every scene he is in.
• Fanny’s Character Arc: The transformation of Fanny from a guileless socialite to Fagin’s protégé is an unexpectedly delightful turn.
• Production Design: The world of Port Victory feels incredibly detailed and vibrant, thanks to the work of Nicholas Hare and the new design team.
• Disconnected Murder Mystery: The serial killer subplot with Inspector Boxer feels uneven and distracting, often dragging the pace.
• Lack of Romantic Rivalry: Despite the intent, Henry Boxer never feels like a genuine threat to the Jack and Belle dynamic, leading to some "Hallmark movie" style misunderstandings.
• Occasional Tonal Whiplash: The show sometimes lurches too quickly between slapstick comedy and dark, serious themes.

Final Verdict: A Rip-Roaring Return to Port Victory

Rating: 4/5 stars

Season 2 of The Artful Dodger is a vicarious trip to 1850s Australia that proves to be a satisfying, if occasionally messy, comfort watch. It justifies the time investment by doubling down on the character dynamics that worked in the first season while daring to take bold risks with its supporting cast and visual style. The series invites you into a timeless experience that respects its Dickensian roots while injecting enough modern energy to keep it from feeling like a museum piece. The culmination of the storylines this year makes a third season feel not just like a possibility, but a necessity for fans who have become invested in this group of rogues and dreamers.

Those who should binge-watch it are fans of historical romance, medical dramas with a twist, and anyone who appreciates seeing veteran actors like David Thewlis given the space to chew the scenery. It is a show for those who want their period pieces to have a pulse and a sense of humor. Conversely, Dickens purists who bristle at creative licenses or viewers who find subplots about serial killers in historical dramas to be a jarring distraction might find parts of it frustrating. Ultimately, the series reinforces that some legends are worth revisiting, especially when they are this much fun.